FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -The Orioles' evolving rotation competition is down to six pitchers for three spots as manager Dave Trembley on Tuesday ruled out David Pauley for one of the starting vacancies.
"There are other guys ahead of him right now," Trembley said. "The two rainouts hurt us. We're coming down toward the end of this. I would highly doubt he'll get another start. If anybody gets another start, I'll try to get it for [Hayden] Penn because he got bumped."
Pauley, who was acquired from the Boston Red Sox this offseason for reliever Randor Bierd, has struggled this spring, compiling an 8.18 ERA in five appearances (three starts). He has allowed 24 hits and two walks in 11 innings. The right-hander, who went 14-4 with a 3.55 ERA in 25 starts for Triple-A Pawtucket last year, is out of options, so he'll have to pass through waivers to go to Triple-A Norfolk. There is a remote chance he will make the Orioles' Opening Day roster as a long reliever.
"You don't want to settle, but if [Norfolk is] the place where you have to go to work on things or whatever it might be, that's what has to happen," Pauley said. "I think it's been a great fit for me so far. The opportunities are great. This is a great place to be."
With Pauley out of the picture, Penn, Adam Eaton, Mark Hendrickson, Brian Bass, Alfredo Simon and Danys Baez are in the running for the three spots.
Jones at No. 2
Trembley penciled seven names into the second spot in the batting order last season, but he appears to have settled on one this year. Trembley said center fielder Adam Jones will start the season as his No. 2 hitter, a move that will allow Melvin Mora to hit fifth.
"I think he's done a nice job," Trembley said of Jones. "Obviously, he knows the areas he needs to improve on. He's worked on it, and I think at the beginning of the year you'll probably see him, most of the time, hitting in the two spot."
Back home
Mora and shortstop Cesar Izturis rejoined the club after playing for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. Second baseman Brian Roberts, who played for the United States, was also back in Fort Lauderdale, but he was battling a cold and excused from Tuesday's workout. Mora, Izturis and Roberts are expected to be in the lineup Thursday.
Jeremy Guthrie, who pitched for the U.S., came home early Monday morning in time to start against the Minnesota Twins, a couple of days after pitching coach Rick Kranitz publicly called for his return. Guthrie said Tuesday that he believed the club panicked in asking him to come home.
